Perton



(No Model.)

B. R. CAPERTON.

No. 507,482, Patented Oct. 24,1893.

NITED STATES PATENT mcee EMMA RATOLIFFE OAPERTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO STRAWBRIDGE & CLOTHIER, OF SAME PLACE.

CORSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,482, dated October 24, 1893. Application filed December 12, 1892. Serial No. 454,840. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMMA RATCLIFFE GA- PERTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corsets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the A invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a new and improved fastening for corsets, and has for its object to remove all undue pressure from the chest and abdomen of the wearer and permit an easy and natural movement of the chest in breathing and singing.

In the drawings Figure 1 is aperspective view showing my improved corset applied to the person of the wearer. Fig. 2 is a similar view on an enlarged scale, illustrating the fastening. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken through one of the fastenings and the meeting edges of the corsets, and Fig. 4 is a detail View illustrating one of the elastic straps and the corset steel in place.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, A indicates the body of the corset which is constructed in the usual manner.

To the meeting edges of the corset are secured straps B of elastic webbing, which are arranged at regular and suitable distances apart, and which are preferably secured alternately to opposite edges of the corset.

To the edges of the corset and opposite the straps B are secured buckles O, of any suitable and known construction, through which the straps are adapted to be passed and secured. The steels D, D, consist of thin, light and flexible metallic strips which are secured in pockets formed in the meeting edges of the corsets by sewing to the inner or under side of the corset and near its meeting edges strips E of textile fabric. After the steels have been inserted within the pockets the edges of the corset will project a slight distance beyond the steels, asat (It, a, and between such projecting edges are inserted the ends of the elastic straps B. Straps F, preferably of inelastic braid or similar material are passed about one edge of or through the buckles, and their ends also inserted between the projecting edges a, a, of the corset. After the steels have been inserted within their pockets and the straps B and buckle loops F inserted between the projecting edges a, a, as described, said edges are united by a line or lines of stitches which serve to close the pockets about the corset steels D, D, and secure the elastic straps Band buckles C to the edges of the corsets. A double row of stitches is preferably made in the projecting edges a, a, of the corsets, one row being formed quite close to the corset steels D, D, and the other near the extreme edges, and both passing through the elastic straps and buckle loops.

In practice the corset is adjusted to the person of the wearer in the usual manner by means of lacing cords at the back, and the corset is then fastened by passing the elastic straps B through the buckles and drawing them up until it fits the figure snugly. The elastic straps are to be of such length that when the corset is fastened there will be an inch or an inch and a half distance between the edges, so that the steels will never press upon that portion of the chest and abdomen corresponding to such interval. The straps being elastic, and the edges of the corset being separated as above described, readily permit the wearer to assume any position preferred without interfering with the expansive movement of the chest and abdomen in breathing and singing. By arranging the elastic straps and buckles alternately upon opposite sides, as shown, the strain is equally divided between the edges of the corset, and owing to the great flexibility of the steels the corset readily adapts itself to the contour of the figure and the different positions assumed by the wearer.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A corset provided at its front edges with thin resilient steels, said edges being norlnally separated by an intervening space, and elastic fastenings connecting the normally separated edges, said fastenings being connected to the corset edges, outside of the steels; whereby the central portion of the chest and abdomen are normally relieved of the pressure of both steels, and whereby the edges may separate still farther without pressing either steel against the body, substantially as described. IO

In testimony whereof Iaiiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EMMA RATOLIFFE GAPERTON. Witnesses:

G110. W. CLEMENT, ELEANOR MERRIKEN WATKINS. 

